Chapter 15

Xellos teleported into his study and collapsed onto the pile of cushions near his desk. "L-sama, I think I'm going to be sick," Xellos groaned, his face a sickly green as he clenched his hand over his mouth. "Ugh, I need to take a dip," Xellos complained to himself as he arose from the cushions and made his way out the back door of his study and outside into the late afternoon sun. Spotting the lake a bit off to the side he leaned his staff against the wall and, without even taking his shoes off, ran full pelt and dove straight into the freezing water, creating a big splash.

After a few minutes Xellos finally rose out of the lake and pulled himself out onto the shore. "Ahhh, that feels much better," Xellos said to himself as he walked back to where he placed his staff, leaving a wet trail of footsteps behind him. He then picked up his staff and walked back inside. "Hmm, maybe Filia can help me forget this traumatic experience, now where did she…ahh, there she is," Xellos said to himself as he found Filia's energy signature in the main library, along with someone else.

"Oh no, of all the-" Xellos then concentrated on the other ones signature. "Shit it's her. Why me L-sama?" Xellos said with slumped shoulders as he teleported to where Filia was.

/

Filia was nearly half way through her book when there was a ripple of air beside her and then Xellos was there. As soon as he appeared before the two women Somari looked up from her towers of books and burst out laughing. Filia managed to tear her eyes away from the chapter she was reading to see what Somari found so funny and found herself trying desperately to stop the giggle fit that was bubbling to the surface. Xellos was dripping wet. His hair was flat and stuck to his face and very mattered looking. His clothes looked heavy with water and his cloak looked like it was about to drop off his shoulders. At Somari's outburst Filia could swear she saw Xellos physically twitch and his grip on his staff tighten as a scowl made its way on his features.

"Yeah yeah yeah, laugh it up, after all…" Xellos grinned evilly as he teleported behind her. "It is fun to get wet, don't you agree?" Xellos smirked as he ringed his cloak onto the monster and some of her nearby books.

"HEY! YOU BASTARD! NOT THE BOOKS, NOT THE BOOKS!" She screeched as she attempted to cover her precious books with her body, using the dry parts of her shirt to pat them dry.

"Xellos that's not nice. What did the books ever do to you?" Filia remarked as she glared at Xellos.

"Aww, but Fi-chan," Xellos said as he teleported behind her, lifting her up from her chair and hugging her from behind, soaking her back in the process. "Don't you think that its fun to get wet? Veeerry weeeet?" Xellos purred in her ear as he held her middle, one hand sliding down to her hip and the other up to the side of her breast.

Filia's face blushed scarlet as a small shiver wracked her body, although not entirely from the cold now soaking through her cloths. "Xe…Xellos! You perv. Let go!" Filia exclaimed as she struggled against his hold before he finally let her go, a smirk firmly planted on his lips.

"You enjoyed it," Xellos remarked as he stared at her with his closed eyes.

"Yuck, I'm standing right here you know!" Somari said as she pulled a look of irritation at the pair, still attempting to dry the water off her work. "Hehe, judging by the fact that you're still dripping wet and so clingy to Filia, I'm guessing you got the old man Craig mission," She said as she gave her own evil smirk to Xellos, who visibly cringed at the statement.

"That's none of your business bitch," Xellos retorted, anger lacing his tone.

"Xellos!" Filia scolded

"But she is!" Xellos replied

"It's alright Filia. I actually am a bitch, and proud of it too." Somari said as she poked her tongue out at Xellos, who in turn poked his own out at her.

"Oh. Well that still doesn't give you the right to be angry at her Xellos. What is the 'old man Craig mission' anyway?" Filia asked as she looked at Xellos, expecting an answer from him.

Xellos shuddered again as he turned his head away from her. "I'd rather not talk about it," Xellos said.

"Xellos," Filia probed.

"Hehe, I'll tell her! Basically there's this really old guy, around 50 to 100 years old, who lives in Atlas city. He's the guild director for Atlas city and hence is the keeper of most of the magical knowledge in that area. In most cases the information he gives us is quite useful, the only hitch is, he's usually very tight lipped about them," Somari said, trying to keep a straight face as she spoke, but failing almost miserably.

"Ok, but what's that got to do with Xellos being soaked?" Filia asked, not quite making the connection between the Atlas City guild director and Xellos's dripping form.

"Hehehe, now that's the funny part. You see old man Craig only likes men, especially the younger ones. So Xellos here..." she gestured towards the gloomy Xellos, "has to seduce him with his 'oh so dashing charms' to get the information we need. And this old man can be very lovey dovey and pretty life affirming if you know what I mean. The rest I think you can work out on your own," she said smugly as she sat back down and put her arms behind her head.

"Oooh," Filia said as realisation dawned on her. 'So Xellos had to seduce the guild director enough to trust him with some of his knowledge, and also gets a large dose of how wonderful this man thinks life is'. She looked towards Xellos, a blank look on his features. "Ew," Filia said. 'And judging by the fact that he keeps shuddering at the mention of the name, he probably doesn't like it that much either. So what he tries to drown himself or something!'

"Are you quite finished yet? Don't you have something else to do somewhere else?" Xellos confronted Somari with a glare.

"In order, I suppose so, yes and no," she replied calmly from her chair, her nose turned up defiantly at Xellos. "This is MY library and I am doing MY research, so I should be asking YOU those questions, since even though I find this whole scene amusing, I have other things to do, so if you don't mind you can take your pet dragon and scram," She then caught sight of Filia's appalled expression. "Please," She added to Filia as more of an afterthought.

"As you wish Mini-Mari!" Xellos said with a chuckle as Somari went rigged in her chair and her face turned scarlet.

"Get. Out. Now," she said in a deadly whisper.

"Hehe, very well. Come on Filia, we'll get you something to eat," Xellos said as he turned his back and started to walk away.

"Oh wait Xellos. Miss Somari is it ok if I take this book with me? I'm not done reading it. Please?" Filia asked politely, indicating the book she now had clasped in her hands.

"What! You want to remove a book from the library! What makes you think-" Filia gave Somari the most pleading look she could give, adding a slight pout in her lips for effect. "Oh no you don't! I invented the puppy dog look before you where even born!" Filia continued to pout, her eyes expanding to twice their size and watering slightly. Somari scowled at Filia, letting out a small growl as she snatched the book from Filia. Filia watched as she opened the front cover and pulled a big librarian stamp out of nowhere and started stamping the front and back page and writing something on a small piece of paper that she stuck on the inside of the back cover. "The date it's due back is at the back. I'm warning you if I find one ink spill, one page crease, I'll make you wish you never set foot in my library," Somari threatened as she handed the book back to Filia, her face lighting up as she took the book back.

"Thank you Miss Somari, I will take good care of it, I promise," Filia said with a bow.

"Yeah whatever, just get out of here and leave me to my work already. I've already wasted enough time as it is," she said before burying herself back into her books, leaving Xellos and Filia to escort themselves out of the library.

"Xellos, what exactly is she researching anyway?" Filia asked as they both left the library, the giant doors closing behind them.

"Only L-sama knows what. For all we know she might not be researching at all. More than once we've caught her engrossed in a horror book or two when she's supposed to be gathering information," Xellos said as he rolled his eyes, heading down the hallway and into one of the nearby kitchens.

The one they walked into was a decent size. It had a simple stove and oven with a small grey bench separating the kitchen area from a small dining section that had a small table with four wooden chairs.

Almost as if by habit, Xellos made his way to one of the chairs facing side on with the bench and sat down as Filia made her way behind the bench to look for the tea pot and cups in the numerous cupboards under the bench and over the stove.

"The tea pot's under the sink and the cups are under the bench," Xellos said as Filia went and retrieved the items from their places. She filled the tea pot with water and proceeded to make the two of them some tea. While she was waiting for the water to boil Filia found some bread and made herself a sandwich. All the while Xellos had been watching her intensely through closed eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if this is what it was going to be like after he marked Filia. Would their lives go back to normal, with him popping in every couple of weeks, Filia would make him some tea, they talk, and then he leaves again?

Or would it be different? Would she expect him to spend more time with her? Would he make her leave all that she knows and loves to stay here on Wolf Pack Island with him? Xellos was brought out of his thoughts when Filia set the cup of tea down in front of him and took the seat next to him, setting down her own cup and her sandwich down on the table. They remained in content silence for a few minutes, silently drinking their teas, Filia quietly munching on her sandwich until she finished the last bite. When she had wiped her mouth of any stray crumbs she finally broke the silence that hung in the air.

"So. What's your favourite colour?" Filia asked, raising the teacup to her lips and taking a delicate sip.

"Excuse me?" Xellos said, slightly bewildered.

"I said, what's your favourite colour?" Filia replied calmly as she set her cup back down and looked towards him.

"Uh, I think it might be either red or blue," Xellos answered.

"Really? I though it would have been purple," Filia replied in surprise.

"What gave you that idea? If anything purple is more of my signature colour. Why do you ask?" Xellos asked as he stared at Filia questioningly.

"Remember the whole reason why I'm here Xellos. To learn more about you. And the only way I'm going to be able to do that is if I ask you questions. So, how old are you?"

"That's a rather personal question isn't it?" Xellos remarked, sitting back in his seat and crossing his arms.

"Just answer the question Xellos," Filia retorted irritably.

"Hmph, 1015 approximately," Xellos said as he turned his head away in a huff. "Give or take a decade."

Filia's eyes widened slightly at this new piece of information. "Wow, you really are old aren't you?" Filia said in astonishment.

"Oh yeah? How old are you then dear Filia?" Xellos replied sarcastically, raising one eyebrow towards her.

"Huh, I'll have you know I'm only 519 years old, you're practically double my age, so there!" Filia said, crossing her arms, an air of victory about her.

"And you already have the first sign of wrinkles, pity. I wonder what you would look like in another couple of decades," Xellos said more to himself than to her, tapping a finger on his chin in thought. Filia's eye twitched as Xellos struck a nerve. She was very conscious about her appearance. 'Control, control, just ignore it and drink your tea, breath, in, out, in, out,' Filia chanted in her mind as she fought to stop herself from physically lashing out at him.

"Next question please. How does a monster go about selecting a mate anyway? What, what made you choose me?" Filia asked as she set her cup back down on the wooden table. Filia found it difficult to look at Xellos after she voiced her last question, instead opting to stare into her reflection in her cup.

"Ahh, I was beginning to wonder when this question would come up," Xellos said, scratching behind his head nervously. "You see it's somewhat complex. Bringing it down to its very base line, most monsters go into I guess you could call it a mating cycle. When this happens and for how long varies from monster to monster, so it makes things a little bit tricky for most of us," Xellos explained, Filia trying to absorb all this new information. "During this brief period a monster will form a type of bond with almost any creature that shows direct affection towards them. Although there is a bit more to it than that, certain…circumstances have to be in place in order for a bond to be formed, without this a true bond cannot be formed, only a weaker form of the bond is shared and the effectiveness is much less and for a shorter time," Xellos explained in the simplest way he could while still not giving too many details that could expose all the monster races secrets.

"I see. Um, Xellos. Which a…bond, do…we… have?" Filia asked, openly fidgeting in her seat as she looked away from his studying gaze. She was feeling very nervous and anxious at this point, worried what his answer would be.

Xellos smiled softly as he watched her shift around in her seat. "What? Are you worried that this is just a temporary bond? Why Filia I never knew you cared for me that much," Xellos gently teased as he reached over and gently turned her chin so she was facing him. "I never said I was worried, I was just curious if this was going to be a permanent thing or not," Filia countered, although it came out in a quieter whisper than what she originally intended. Xellos chuckled slightly as he stroked his thumb along her jaw, his eyes following its movements. "I'm afraid you can't get out that easy. Ours is a true bond, face it. You're stuck with me," Xellos humored as he withdrew his hand and leaned back into his seat, leaving Filia slightly shocked and flushed as she slowly leaned back into her own seat, running Xellos's words and their implications over again and again in her mind.

Least to say Filia was somewhat relieved that this wouldn't be a phase that he would eventually grow out of. But now she had other questions on her mind. What did that mean for her life back home? How was this going to affect them in the long run? One particular question seemed to be nagging her at the front of her mind. What are the 'circumstances' that make a true bond? Filia's mind was running a mile a minute trying to think of possible answers. She looked at Xellos's relaxed form as he watched her puzzled expression. 'What makes me so special?' She thought to herself. She took a breath to steady her nerves and was about to voice her question when Xellos suddenly went rigid and sat straight up, his head cocked to the side as if he were listening for something. "Mistress is calling me. I'm sorry Fi-chan but we have to cut this session short for now," he said as he rose from his seat and retrieved his staff. "I best be going now, you should be alright getting back to the room from here," he said as he made his way to the door. "Xellos wait," Filia said as he was turning the door knob. He opened the door and turned his upper body to face her, waiting for her to speak.

"I just want to know, when you will be back," She said as she stood from her chair.

Xellos smiled at her curious face, "I'm not sure. I'll get back when I get back," He replied simply as he turned around and started walking out the door. "Don't stay up too late Fi-chan, wouldn't want you sleeping most of the day again," Xellos called back as he walked out the door and down the hall. Filia hurried around the table and through the door way of the kitchen staring down the hallway that Xellos had walked down. By the time she had arrived there however he was already gone, not a trace of him left. 'Figures,' Filia thought to her self as she retrieved Val and her book and walked down the same hallway Xellos had disappeared from.

'I guess this is how it's always going to be. Never knowing when he's going to be around, never knowing when the next summons will come. Never knowing if he was going to come back,' Filia felt a slight stab in her chest as her thoughts turned dark. What if one day Xellos never came back? Filia's heart jumped into her throat and her eyes stung as she considered this possibility. She didn't know what she would do if she could never see him again. Never be able to have tea with him. To never hear his teasing remarks and his snide comments. Filia shook her head in an attempt to clear away the negative thoughts. 'What am I thinking? This is Xellos we're talking about. He's one of the most powerful monsters to exist aside from the five Demon Lords. Nothing could possibly prevent him from returning from his missions. Even Miss Lina would be severely challenged if she were to fight against him,' Filia tried to convince herself as she walked into her room and sat on the edge of her bed, setting Val and the book beside her. Filia felt confident that Xellos would always find a way to return, but still.

To get her mind off depressing thoughts Filia reached over and picked up the book that she gad borrowed from the library. She opened the book, this time starting from the first page and started to read.

/

"Mistress, may I inquire as to why she has to come as well?" Xellos asked from his bowed position before his mistress.

"She has stayed in my home for over three days now. Granted the first few days she was injured. But after that she's living under my roof and eating my food. It's about time she earned her keep while she's here," Zelas replied as she swirled her wine glass between her fingertips, the dark red liquid inside leaving small stains on the sides.

"As you command my mistress," Xellos said as he bowed a bit lower and made to leave the throne room.

"Oh and Xellos dear," Zelas called out. Xellos instantly halted his steps and turned to face his mistress. "Yes mistress Zelas?" Xellos replied

"Only tell her what she needs to know. She does not need to know why she is going. Make sure she is ready in a timely fashion. Understood?" Zelas said, a slight smirk gracing her lips,

"Yes Ma-am," Xellos bowed again and left the room.

'What has she got planned now,' Xellos questioned silently.